Skeleton framework construction for airships and the like



1,503,293 K. ARNSTEIN SKELETON FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION FOR AIRSHIPS ANDTHE' LIKB filed April 8, 1922 2 Shets-Sheefl 1 INVLNTQRI July 29 1 1924.

' 1,503,293 K. ARNSTEIN summon mmzwoax cons'rauc'rlon FOR AIRSHIPS ANDwe mm:

Filed'April a, 1922 g Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 29, 1924.

KARL ARNSTEIN, OF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO- THE FIRM.LUFTSCHIFFBAU ZEPPELIN GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESQHRANKTEB @IAIET'UNG, Q15

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GER-MANY" SKELETON FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION FOR AIBSHIPSAND THE LIKE.

Applicationfiled April 8, 1922. 'Serial in. 550,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL ARNsTEIN, a citizen of CzechoslovakianRepublic, residing at Friedrichshafen a/B., Germany, have i inventedcertain new and useful Improve ments in Skeleton Framework Constructionfor Airships and the. like, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention has reference to means of constructing skeleton supportingand protecting frames and walls for air ships and the like by means ofwhich great rigidity of the structure with the greatest possibleexclusion of deformation of the several elements and of the structure asa whole is obtained, and the mounting and assembling of the severalparts into a unit is greatly facilitated. V 7

It is one of the objects ofthis invention to avoid the drawbacks andinconveniences resulting from lack of uniformity in the distribution ofthe tension elements heretofore experienced in previous constructions insome of which, for example, each point of juncture of thetrusses orrailsin skeleton frames of this kind was connected to all the other points ofjunctures directly by tensional members or t-helike. Among other objectsmy invention is particularly intended to provide means, to overcome orto counteract the bending strains, and the deflecting tendenciesproduced bythe gas pressure, and in accordance with a preferred form ofconstruction of my invention these tendencies are overcome and the'factor of safety of the beams and girders and the like is increased andthe free unsupportedcrackable length thereof isreduced by providingmeans whereby the tensional struts and stays are so arranged that,instead of extending diagonally through each section constituted by thesupporting rings and longitudinal beams or trusses, these tensionalmembers are secured to the two relatively rigid points of juncture attheir extremities, and in the thus resulting uniformly tightenedcondition they are secured by clamping or in -a similar manner to, thepressure beams, trussesor girders intermediate such junctures. Byproceeding in this manner the strengthening elements are prevented frombeing conducted through the compartments .of the air ship or the like,and without being connected to the opposi e Experience has shown that itis impossible to reduce the exposed length of bending resistance of thelongitudinal supporting membersby transverse tensionalmemlongitudinalsupport, and are then tightened, this tightening operation results in arather unlimited deformation of such longitudinal members, and thebending forces which are thereby brought into play n'oili tate againstthe intended advantage of a reduction of the exposed bending length.

.bers, inasmuch as in structures of this kind in whlch the tenslonalwires orthe like are orlg-lnally connected to each individual Inaccordance with my invention these difficulties are overcome by verysimple means of construction which are obviously also applicable toother than longitudinal supports of the kind referred to, and in allsuch cases the tensional wires or strengthening members accordingto myinvention are preferably adapted to serve not only as a means ofreducing the'free length exposed to bending forces, but also as diagonalstruts for the transmission of transverse forces. proceeding accordingto my in vention the free bending length is reduced without the dangerof creating additional bending or deforming forces.

My invention among other uses is particularly applicable for theconstruction of the skeleton frames of air ships, and for theconstruction and strengthening of the so-called gangway or tunnel ofrigid air ships. A gangway of this kind which heretofore used to beconstructed of rigid beams or supports provided with ordinary diagonaltension memberanmy be provided in accordance with this invention withside walls of girder frame work. consisting of pressure-proof diagonalstruts, wires or the like, the exposed bendinglengthbeing reduced byclamping such members to tautly secured 'wireswhich extend from onepoint of juncture to the other; By proceeding in this manner a gangwayor tunnel 1s obtained which is particularly adapted to serve the variousfunctions assigned to it by modern aeronautics in combination with theframe of the air ship proper, andwhich hereto ore were only incompletelyacc plishe by a large number of rather complicated structures. Myinvention is of great importance as a means of improvingthe constructionof air ships of very large size in which the large distance of thecompartment walls, and of the tightened supporting rings results in avery large exposed free span of the gangway. In the case of tunnels ofgreat height the drawback of increaseof load by the large exposedbending length of the pressure-proof diagonal members is overcome bysecuring the diagonal members by clamping or in a similar manner towires which are tautly drawn, and intersect the beams, or trusses, whichresults in this case likewise in a great reduction of the bendinglength. x

The lateral compensation ofthestress of the frame work struts in thepractical application of my invention may be. produced 7 by runningwires from a fixed point on the supporting ring to the frame work girderadjacent said ring,the said wires being fastened to said girder, andbeing then made to intersect the intervening girders or struts to whichthey are connect- .ed by clamping or in a similar manner, and thenjoining the girder or strut adjacent the next supporting ring, and beingfinally connected at their other ends to afixed point on the nextsupportingring.

Another means of lateral compensation of the stresses which also servesfor the stiffening of the frame work consists in arranging thecompensating wires between the ridge supporting beam for the gangway andthe lower lateral supporting beams 1 thereof in zigzag fashion andcontrary to :which it is extremely diflicult the direction of thetension of th'egirders, the wires being preferably joined tothe gangwaygirders by clamping or in a similar manner at the intersecting points.The points on the supporting beams. for the gangway at which thetensiona'l members are caused to act, are preferably secured by verticalstruts or the like against the-pressure of the lower-lateral gangwaygirders or supports. The points on the lower lateral tunnel supports atwhich the tensional members are caused to act may be suflicientlysecured and stiffened by transverse supports connecting the two lateralgangway sup ports and the central gangway support.

By proceeding in this manner I am enabled to do away with the longsuspension members heretofore employed and passing through thecompartments of the airship, and a structure of less weight is therebyobtained which is considerably more rigid than the previousconstruction, and is more adapted to operate as a kind of pressure girthfor the air ship, and atithe same time the advantage is obtained thatthe dangerous perforation of the gas compartments to tighten cured onlyagainst the escape of gas, is avoided. The particular form andconstruction of the gangway is immaterial; "it may be of triangular orrectangular or trapezoid or any other section.

My invention is illustrated by way of example on the accompanyingdrawing showing skeleton frames and gangways embodying my invention. Y V

F igurel is a partial side elevation of an air shipbody' according to myinvention.

Figure 2 is a section through the side of a gangway on the line ab ofFigure 3.

' Figure 3 is a transverse section'of a gang way corresponding to Figure2, and on the line 0cZ of the same.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the gangway structure in verticalsection.

Figure 5 is another modification of a gangway showing a sectional viewthrough the side wall of the same.

Figure is a section on the line e-f of Figure 5." p

The skeleton frame of the air ship illustrated in Figure 1 in aconventional manner consists of the longitudinal supports a a a etc.,the supporting rings 6 and b and the auxiliary rings 0 c 0 etc, and oftensional stiffening members. These stiffening members for the sectionalfields formed by the longitudinal supports and the rings extend fromeach point of juncture 79 across substantially the central point oftheadjacent longitudinal support intersecting the same,'and to anotherpoint of juncture 12. in accordance with my invention the tensionalstiffening wires 1" are first seat the points of j u-ncture 7); they arethen tightened, and are then secured by a ."clamping device a: or thelike to the intersectf ing longitudinal support or girder.

he same means of stiffening and tightening is employed in the gangwaystructures shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawing. In the structureaccording to Figures 2 and 3 the upper triangular supporting member isdesignated 9. .lVith the two lower lateral longitudinal supports 7L itconstitutes, the frame for the gangway 2), provided at its bottom withthe substantially centrally lo cated running board or support 71. Theside walls are stiffened and secured by scarfs, battens or rods y,

proof against compressing stress and the exposed binding lengths ofwhich are vsecured by clamping to the frame work battens or scarfs 7aand by means of two longitudinal wires at the points Z. I y

Figure 4 shows a. gangway of trapezoid section, but otherwiseconstructed similar to the one illustrated in Figures 2 and'3. Thesupporting beam for the gangwayis indicated at g, the lower lateralsupporting member is indicated .at it, while 2' is the runnin board orsupport, and is are the struts.

The modification accordin to Figures 5 and 6 is merely distinguishedfrom the structure shown in Figures 2 to 4 by the use of the wires m andof the beams or girders h. The wires m are arranged in zig zag fashionbetween the ridge support 9 and the supporting beams h in such a manneras to cause each wire to intersect a strut substantially at the center,being secured thereto at 2 by clamping or in a similar manner. The ridgesupport 9 at the points of connection ofthe wires, is stiffened againstthe supporting beams or girders h by means of struts h.

It is obvious that my invention is capable of a great variety of usesother than those mentioned by way of example in this specification, andI do not intend to be limited to the particular modes of applicationshown in the drawing which are merely intended as an illustration, butnot as a limitation of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a skeleton frame for aircraft and the like in combination,intersecting members in spaced relation to each other and connected atthe points of juncture and tensional stifiening members fixed to a pointof intersection and extending across one of said intersecting members toanother point of intersection, said stifiening members being fixed tosaid intersecting member also in the crossing point.

2. In a skeleton frame for air craft and the like, a plurality ofcrosswisearranged frame members in parallel spaced relation to eachother and tensional. stiflening members connected to the frame membersrunning in one direction, intermediate adjacent points of juncture andangularly extending from said point of connection to the adjacent pointsof juncture of the frame members running in the other direction.

3. In a skeleton frame for air craft and the like, a plurality ofsupporting members in parallel spaced relation to each other and runningin one direction, a plurality of sup porting rings in parallel spacedrelation to each other and intersecting said supporting members andconnected thereto at the points of intersection, a plurality ofintersecting stiffening tensional members connected substantially at thecenter of said supporting members intermediate the points of juncturethereof with the rings, and angularly extending from said points ofconnection to the next adjacent points of juncture of the rings with thelongitudinalrmembers.

4. Rigid skeleton frame for air craft comprising in combination,intercrossing supporting members parallelly spaced from each other andconnected at the points of juncture, tensional stiffening membersangularly extending from a point of juncture to a11- other point ofjuncture across the intervening adjacent supporting member, and meansfor fastening said tensional member to the intervening supporting memberand to the points of juncture of the intercrossing adjacent supportingmembers.

5. Rigid skeleton frame for air craft comprising in combination,longitudinal supporting members in parallel spaced relation to eachother, a plurality of supporting rings parallelly spaced from each otherand cross ing said longitudinal members and connected thereto at thepoints of juncture, a plurality of tensional stiffening membersconnected to points on each longitudinal supporting members intermediatethe points of juncture thereof, and angularly extending in oppo sitedirections from said points of connection and secured to the nextadjacent points of juncture of the rings with the longitudinal members,and clamping means for said stiffening means.

6. Rigid skeleton frame for air craft, comprising in combination, aplurality of intercrossing longitudinal and transverse membersparallelly spaced from each other and constituting the walls of saidstructure, stiflfening members connected intermediate the points ofjuncture on the longitudinal members and extending angularly therefromto the adjacent points of juncture a plurality of angularly extendingtensional stiffening wires intersect-ing the first mentioned stiffeningmembers and means for securing the stiffening members to each other attheir points of intersection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KARL ARNSTEIN. [1 s]

